The effect of medium chain triglyceride upon fat absorption and plasma lipid and depot fat of children with cystic fibrosis of the pancreas.

Abstract

Medium chain triglyceride (MCT) feeding reduced the steatorrhea and increased the rate of weight gain in 4 infants and children with cystic fibrosis. High MCT feeding given to these infant patients resulted in mild elevations in their plasma triglyceride levels. The data suggested that MCT was 1st oxidized to 2-carbon fragments in the liver for use in the synthesis of C16 and C18 saturated and monoenoic acids. The increased endogenous lipogenesis from MCT resulted in proportional decreases of the already depressed polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in the blood and tissue of these patients. But these patients showed no manifestation of essential fatty acid deficiency. The study also suggested that a restriction in foods containing short chain fatty acids may be helpful in the dietary control of hyperglyceridemia.